WE love LA!

Yes that's right, we're now in sunny Los Angeles, United States of America! Been here for almost 48 hours, and there has been lots to see and do!

We left Cancun, Mexico after spending a day and a half there. Hadn't planned to stay there at all, but it turned out to be a good move as we had a wicked time! Stayed in a cheap hostel downtown, while all the posh, expensive hotels are situated along the beach a 30 minute bus ride away. We didn't have a pool in our hotel, just a couple of hammocks, a kitchen and bunk beds. But the beds were clean, the kitchen good to cook our own food in, and we just got on the bus and gatecrashed some hotels and got in their lovely infinity pools and jacuzzis! They were great!!! :)
The beach and water was absolutely fantastic too, light blue water and great temperature. The first day a freak wave came up and absolutely soaked us as we sat (in our clothes) on the beach soon after arriving. No one else around us got wet, it was only a stretch about 2 metres wide that went that high up - right where we were sat! Was funny to see if you were there! :)

Realised soon after stepping off the plane in Los Angeles that it's Oscar fever here, as the 79th (I think) Oscars award ceremony takes place this Sunday at the Kodak theatre in Hollywood. Yesterday we both held an Oscar.. yes one of those golden little statues! And a real one too! We went to the Kodak theatre where they're now setting everything up and the media is already there, and could take a picture holding one of the statues they will be giving away on Sunday. Quite cool! Never thought we'd be going to the Oscars, but now we've "been" there!  

That's been our Hollywood movie glam part of the visit so far, that and seeing the Hollywood sign.

Another great thing about LA is the SHOPPING!!! It's great!!!! And since the british pound is really strong at the moment (and/or the dollar weak) it's all mega cheap! Our backpacks are absolutely full as they are (Agneta's back is even hurting!) but I (agneta) don't care, there's too many nice dresses, tops, surf shorts, shoes and lots more!! :) Would definitely recommend a shopping trip here!
:)

Last night we went out clubbing with a group of people from our hostel. It was a wicked night with lots of dancing, and did not even feel too bad this morning (which was a miracle for Agneta!)!

Today we've spent the day on Venice beach. It's quite cold here at the moment as it's winter time (freezing at night!), but today the sun has been shining all day which was great although definitely not warm enough for a swim! There's a lot of different characters in LA, some quite original people and ideas. We came across beggers with unique approaches of what they wanted money for, ranging from:
"I will work for marijuana"
to
"Spare some change so I can have a lobotomy and enter politics"
and
"The original wino (a-lagare)" singing Christmas songs about letting him buy some booze.

There was a lot of hippies and general anti-bush propaganda art, music and people. Seems like no one actually likes the man.., go figure!

LA is big and sprawling, and a lot of it is quite plain and a bit run down. But it's got great food (Nick and Sue, we've had the best steak for dinner tonight from a great little Brasilian take-away stall!), funny and really friendly people as well as funny nutters, and of course great shopping! :)

Tomorrow we're off to Universal Studios for a day in the world of films. Tonight we're going to the cinema, there's lots of new films out that we hadn't even heard about, and tomorrow night/late afternoon we're going to head to the Kodak theatre yet again to try and get a glimpse of some of the stars arriving on the red carpet (which we've already walked down by the way!)!

Monday night we fly out to New Zealand, and hopefully Mead and Amanda will be at the airport to pick us up!

A&J, xxx